Rabat, Morocco (TMT)- The head of the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidines, and Morchidates, Mr. Abdeslam Lazaar, said that the institute received applications from various imams from Chechnya, Belgium, Finland, and Senegal to join the prestigious Moroccan institute.
Lazaar said that “the Moroccan experience in the field of training imams is drawing the attention of many countries around the world, especially in this time where the extremist rhetoric has grown and where many people fail to understand some concepts like jihad, loyalty and disavowal,” among others.
The center is a key element in Morocco’s ongoing efforts to promote religious moderation and tolerance as a shield against extremism in the region. Since late 2013, Morocco has signed accords to train imams from a number of countries across Africa and Europe, including Mali, Libya, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, the Maldives, and most recently Belgium. In addition to the Moroccan students enrolled-including 150 imams and morchidines and 100 morchidates, the Institute currently hosts 447 foreign students. 212 are from Mali, 37 from Tunisia, 100 from Guinea Conakry, 75 from Côte d’Ivoire, and 23 from France.
The Moroccan Times.
